Hull FC regained third place in Super League with a 32-18 victory over Salford Red Devils, but what did we learn from the opening game of the Super 8s?

Lessons learned

Last season's Super 8s campaign may all have been about trying to get to the Grand Final, but it was dominated by the Challenge Cup.

The games buillding up to Wembley brought a return of two wins from three games following the semi-final victory, with just one more win from the last five after history was secured in the capital.

This year it's a different story. The cup final is yet to be played and how the players will react to whatever the outcome is we won't know for three weeks, but you can sense the determination that win or lose in London, Wembley will not define Hull's end to the season.

Last year after winning the semi-final FC fell to a home defeat against Castleford having run out of juice. Against Salford mental and physical fatigue was evident again with the game slow at times and with errors too, but Hull found a way to win and played in bursts to secure two vital points.

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A great opening set of results

Lee Radford has enough to focus on without worrying about what other teams are doing, but the smile that broke out on his face when hearing the night's other results couldn't be avoided.

Leeds beating Wigan and Huddersfield beating Wakefield meant two of the teams chasing Hull were dealt a big blow as the Black and Whites were able to move two points further head.

SUPER 8S TABLE 04/08/2017 (Image: BBC)

If only Castleford had beaten St Helens it would have been the perfect set of results, but still seventh and eighth in the table are now six points off Hull and Wakefield in sixth are three behind alongside Salford in fifth. There's breathing room at last, even if only a small amount.

And so to Saints

What the win at Castleford did for St Helens was place even more focus on next Friday's clash between them and Hull FC.

Fourth hosts third as the competition's form team take on the Challenge Cup holders. It promises to be an exciting encounter and what that has a massive say in the race for the top four.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Hull FC's Gareth Ellis. (Image: Richard Addison)

Lee Radford even stressed the importance himself after the Salford win, knowing a victory at Saints would put his side firmly in the driving seat before the cup final.

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It's hard not to get the sense Hull are determined to give themselves a comfortable advantage before the final almost knowing the next two games after Wembley will be tough to win.

Connor shines again

With a try, four assists and a 100 per cent record with the boot Jake Connor enjoyed a great run out in the halves once again.

As Lee Radford pointed out after the game Marc Sneyd's absence and Connor alongside Albert Kelly means Hull lose some of their structure in attack and it can be erratic at times.

Hull FC's Jake Connor

But Connor isn't an organiser, he's an impulse player like Kelly albeit with a kicking game which shone also in the win over Salford. Connor can't play like Sneyd, but what he can do is run the ball and create for others and he did that with in impressive fashion against the Red Devils.